Catholic parishes feeling the pinch of lack of funds

The absence of Holy Masses in Catholic Churches due to the imposition of the enhanced community quarantine for two months has financially affected parishes especially their means to help the poor.

“The financial effect to the parishes is tremendous. Not only are there no holy mass collections, we have to support our parish personnel, and also many parishes shell out money to help the poor in their areas by giving food to them,” Apostolic Administrator of the Archdiocese of Manila Bishop Broderick Pabillo said in an interview.

“The parishes help one another. Those who have resources help those who do not have enough,” he added.

Bishop Pabillo said they have also appealed for online donation.

Balanga, Bataan Bishop Ruperto Santos said they had to utilize their savings in order to still help the poor during this time of public health crisis by giving bags of groceries especially to those in the remote areas.

The Diocese of Balanga, Santos said, also helps some barangay parishes to meet expenses especially for the salaries of personnel.

Father Melvin Castro of the Diocese of Tarlac said since there was no incoming funds, parishes have to rely on God’s providence.

“Totally no incoming funds, but like the rest of the people and the faithful, we rely on the Providence of God. And He is never failing. So much so, we are even able to help the poorer members,” he said.

The government imposed the ECQ last March 16 to prevent the spread of the coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) pandemic.

Since mass gatherings are prohibited in the ECQ, dioceses suspended public Masses.

The Inter-Agency Task Force earlier allowed religious gatherings in areas under the modified enhanced community quarantine (MECQ) and general community quarantine (GCQ), but with limited number of people.